Title: Media Literacy and Hydro-fracking in the Catskill Watershed
Authors: Pat Moore and Shana Eaglefeathers of Margaretville Central School Subject and Grade Level: Environmental Science (High school, grades 10-12) Time Needeted: Ten 42 minute class periods
For additional free online lessons integrating media literacy and critical thinking into the curriculum, go to www.projectlooksharp.org
Summary: Our study looked at applying our scientific critical thinking skills to the analysis of media regarding the process of hydrological fracturing used in natural gas extraction.
Objectives: Curriculum Goals: Students will:
understand the history and structure of the Catskill Watershed
review the water cycle and groundwater properties
Media Literacy Goals:
Students will be able to decode media messages
Students will evaluate media sources
Students will understand the difference between credible science and propaganda
Other Goals:
Students will learn to work with digital poster presentation tools
Students will engage in project research utilizing media resources
Students will deliver a culminating public presentation
Vocabulary:
hydro-fracking
marcellus shale
media
media literacy
media deconstruction
Materials: See Resources
Lesson Steps:
Watershed History - Use media clips that teach about the watershed but also were "selling the project to people" Ask critical questions about why the video was produced, by who, for what audience
Water cycle review - review content on the water cycle and properties of water tables. Students learned this in Earth Science, but may need a "refresher."
Media Specialist teaches media decoding skills
View web pages and media clips on hydrofracking.
Have students work in teams and research hydrofracking and possible effects on the catskill watershed using web sites, media clips, and potentially journal articles.
Students teams create media rich presentations showing both sides of the hydrofracking issue.
Present student work at Watershed Youth Symposium in March.
This lesson was produced during 2011- 2011 as part of a collaboration between Project Look Sharp (PLS) at Ithaca College and four NY State BOCES School Library Systems. The initiative brought together pairs of secondary science teachers and school librarians to develop models for integrating critical thinking and media literacy into secondary science content. The project was supported by federal LSTA funds awarded to the NY State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. To view additional lessons from this series go to: www.projectloksharp.org.
Authors: Pat Moore and Shana Eaglefeathers of Margaretville Central School
Subject and Grade Level: Environmental Science (High school, grades 10-12)
Time Needeted: Ten 42 minute class periods
For additional free online lessons integrating media literacy and critical thinking into the curriculum, go to www.projectlooksharp.org
Summary:
Our study looked at applying our scientific critical thinking skills to the analysis of media regarding the process of hydrological fracturing used in natural gas extraction.
Objectives:
Curriculum Goals: Students will:
Media Literacy Goals:
Other Goals:
Vocabulary:
- hydro-fracking
- marcellus shale
- media
- media literacy
- media deconstruction
Materials: See ResourcesLesson Steps:
Additional Resources/Background Information:
Internet Resources
**The Marcellus Shale: Energy to fuel our future**
http://marcelluscoalition.org/
**Groudwater Protection Council Presentation**
http://www.jlcny.org/site/attachments/article/293/Groudwater%20Protection%20Council%20Presentation%20by%20Terry%20Engelder.pdf
**City Water Supply**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZas2r8B4QA&feature=related
**Latest NY Natural Gas Drilling News**
http://www.jlcny.org/site/index.php
**Marcellus an American Renewel**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0uMHdpSXKc
**Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells**
http://www.earthworksaction.org/hydfracking.cfm
**NATURAL GAS HYDRO-FRACKING IN SHALE**
http://www.citizenscampaign.org/campaigns/hydro-fracking.asp
Email contact: (optional)
This lesson was produced during 2011- 2011 as part of a collaboration between Project Look Sharp (PLS) at Ithaca College and four NY State BOCES School Library Systems. The initiative brought together pairs of secondary science teachers and school librarians to develop models for integrating critical thinking and media literacy into secondary science content. The project was supported by federal LSTA funds awarded to the NY State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. To view additional lessons from this series go to: www.projectloksharp.org.